Need for Speed joins the EA Sports brand

Only one week away from the release of its next title in the Need for Speed series, EA already has some big plans in mind for the future of the racing franchise. In an effort to provide more of an open attitude towards development, the Need for Speed brand will be folded into the EA sports label to provide the series with some new perspective.

During an interview with Polygon, executive vice president of EA Patrick Soderlund expressed his ideas for what the future of EA holds, and how the various brands and divisions within the company can learn a lot from each other. "I think that we can learn a lot from the sports games and what they've done," Soderlund said. "When you play a sports game, the controller in your hand will dictate how good the game is. It's all about player control and input and how it feels. It's a feeling, right? I think that focus on pure gameplay, is something that can benefit the Need for Speed brand in a very positive way."

Though he was quick to deny that the series will now steer towards realism, he did express that having new developers and producers with experience on sports titles will help to offer new ideas and vision. The Need for Speed series is known for blurring the line between simulation and arcade racing, and with Rivals and the next-gen consoles just around the corner, we'll have to wait and see if this new strategy will pan out.

Need for Speed: Rivals will be released on November 15, 2013 for PS3, Xbox 360, PC, and both Xbox One and PS4.

A San Francisco native, he's an admirer of the city's diverse culture and lifestyle. Prior to joining the staff, he was a contributor and an editor for his college newspaper where he wrote articl... more